'Expendables' star Terry Crews' character narrowly missed being a New Orleans cliche

From his warhead-firing weapon to his bulging biceps to his sense of humor, there's a lot to like about Terry Crews' butt-kicking character in Sylvester Stallone's star-studded New Orleans-shot action film "The Expendables." For Crews, though, his favorite thing just might be his character's name itself.

Terry Crews, left, and Sylvester Stallone get ready to rumble in 'The Expendables.'

That name: Hale Caesar -- "which is the best name of all time," Crews said between takes last summer on the film's Elmwood set. " 'B.A. Barracus' was good. 'Hale Caesar' is a whole 'nother thing."

The funny thing is, that name almost got scrapped in favor of something a little more New Orleans-y. Once the production decided to set up shop in New Orleans - and to rewrite the script to include New Orleans scenery - Crews said serious thought was given to renaming his character "Jazz Gumbo."

It was eventually changed back -- which is probably a good thing to locals who might cringe at the dual cliches -- but Crews said "Jazz Gumbo" has a certain ring to it.

"I wouldn't mind either one to be honest, because I saw a New Orleans vibe with the character. But then 'Hale Caesar' was too cool. It was too damn cool. Jazz Gumbo would have been cool if that was it and I hadn't heard Hale Caesar, but once it was Hale, I knew."